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Even.
 It's
no secret to many people that Even are one of my favourite bands,
and have been for quite a while. It's not that they're pushing
the envelope or going boldly where no band has gone before -
it's just their uncanny ability to give you that simple tune
that so perfectly captures a moment, or that lyric that has
the absolute power to make you smile. And for anyone who has
seen them live, boy can that Ashley Naylor play...
The first thing I say to guitarist/vocalist Naylor is that for myself and my close friends, Even songs have become such a part of our lives that I can't imagine the world without them. He understands. "It's the whole parallel universe scenario. If I think about hit songs, a lot of the songs just become hits in your own universe. Songs by the Posies, for example, Definite Door, is a gargantuan song but I don't think it got played on radio ever. Big Star, I haven't heard them on the radio, but their songs are bona fide hits in my world. So it's very flattering to hear that, but I still think that I've got so much to learn about songwriting - and that was such a happy accident because it's so stark, there's nothing to it. I'm very honoured that people have responded well to those tracks but I just keep hoping one day that I can write something like the people that have inspired me. My work is never done, if you know what I mean."
I'm not the only one who thinks this way. Every time the Melbourne trio come to this side of town, there are many familiar faces in the crowd, the Even faithful who must get their fix wherever possible. "Well, I guess part of me wants to be part of that group as well, to feel like part of the same appreciation society. Hopefully Even is a reminder to like-minded people like there that rock and guitar pop which doesn't rely on hype can still be valid. I have a pretty strong affinity with the people who are interested in our band, and I'm not delusional about our appeal. I guess we're a subculture group, but I'm kinda proud of that as well. I'm honoured that people come out and see us play, genuinely honoured."
Songwriting is a big part of the Even experience. This is how he goes about doing it, citing the example of the classic Black Umbrella. "I think I kinda sing phonetically when I write songs, I tend to sing mumbo jumbo and it kinda falls into some phonetic rhythm, and then, I think there's a line in Punkarella by You Am I that refers to a black umbrella, and I never totally acknowledged that until later down the track, it was a subconscious influence... a lot of it is very basic metaphoric love songs, I guess, but I don't want to be too literal. I think I'm just trying to keep it simplistic, the bands that really get to me are the bands that make simple music and I don't have much time for complicated rock 'n' roll."
And apart from songwriting, I guess we just have a boy and his guitar. "I'm thirty-four years old and I want to be the best guitarist that I can be, and that takes a lot of time and effort. I'm obsessed with the pursuit of excellence, so much so that I'll never rate myself, you know what I mean? I want to push myself into another realm, an untouchable realm, where fashion, hype, taste and flavour of the month doesn't mean a thing. I want Even to be in a realm where you either love it or hate it. I just want to make great records, I want us to make our mark.
"We just finished the new album and in a way it's taken a long time to get together. There's a lot more guitar playing on this new record, a lot more solos, I'm a bit more free about playing lead guitar again. That was constructed as a bit of a guitar orchestra there. I'll still obsess about Jimmy Page guitar solos, Bowie songs, John Paul Jones bass lines; I'm still a music obsessive and I want that to translate into what we do. And naturally there are limitations to what we can do based on our..." he pauses, thinking "...our musical limitations, but at the same time we can pull on our strengths."
I have to interrupt him at this point - with an axeman as competent as himself, and the multi-talented Wally Kempton (also of The Meanies) on the bass guitar and backing vocals, what on earth are their limitations? "I guess they're the ones that you see as your limitations. For me personally, I guess it's the singing. When it comes to recording the song in the studio, I'm notorious for a lot of indecision about the vocal stage. Guitar playing, well I can play guitar all day every day. So maybe instrumental records are the way to go!"
Ben Revi
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Even close proceedings at the Regal Tent on Sun 14 March. See Prize Frenzy™ for tickets.
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